Electrolytic condenser



1933- H. I. DANZIGER 1,908,962

ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER Filed March 13, 1931 Fig.1 my: 23 5.9 2 40 3 15 a at I 32 41 \l 30 ag I 526 INVENTOR shape, and

Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLDII. nanzrenn, or NEW YORK,

11. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CONDENSER CORPORATION I OF AMERICA, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER My present invention relates generally to electrical condensers, and has particular reference to improvements in condensers of the electrolytic type.

The type of condenser to which mypresent invention apperta-ins is of the general character disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 439,578,;filed March'28, 1930, and consists briefly of an electrolytev container, usually. of substantially cylindrical an electrode or'electrodes immersedwithin the electrolyte and provided with means on the exterior of the container for establishing electrical connections thereto.

In condensers of this general character, it.

is desirable, if not essential, to provide means for venting the interior of the container, and, more especially, so that the gases which are present above the level of the electrolyte and which may under certain circumstances develop pressures beyond a predetermined safe or desirable maximum may have anv opportunity to escape in part so as to relieve the excessive pressure.

Before proceeding to describe the details of my present invention, Iwill premise that a mere aperture or opening in an upper wall of a container, although serving to permit such venting, is, from many aspects, unsatisfactory for the reason that the interior oft-he container would then. be open to the atmosphere at all times, and for the further reason that packing, shipment, and handling of the condenser would be interfered with by the likelihood of leakage through such aperture of the electrolyte. \Vhere the venting aper: ture is provided in a protuberance adapted to accommodate a cap, the cap being, for example, of relatively soft, resilient material such as rubber and provided with a pinhole whichis normally closed but which opens under excessive pressure conditions, many disadvantages frequently result. For example, the projecting nature of such a venting arrangement increases the likelihood of accidental encounter therewith with the possibility of damage; the cap may, under certain circumstances, come off unless special precautions are taken to keep it in place; the exposure of a protuberance with or without .provide the upper portion thereof,

a cap is not conduciveto attractive nor workmanlike appearance; and the construction and assembly of such devices, of necessity, require special procedures, tools, and precautions.

Similarly, although a venting arrangement of the foregoing character may, under certain circumstances, be expeditiously provided at the central portionof a substantially circular top wall of a container, it is relatively more -d1ffiCl1R and mexpedient to provide such an arrangement at an eccentric position.-

It is a general obj ect of my present invention to provide an improved venting arrangement for a structure of the foregoing general character, and, more particularly, to

a device which is in its entirety disposed withinthe container itself, whereby extegnal protuberances are entirely dispensed wit v It is a further object of my invention to provide a device which requires no protuberances whatsoever, either exteriorly or interiorly, and which is composed of relatively simple and inexpensive parts and instrumentalities which produce a staunch and workmanlike finished structure and which are relatively inexpensive and simple from a manufacturing and assembly standpoint.

My present invention is of particular value inconnection with structures wherein the operative portions of the condenser structure project outwardly through the top of the device, as, for example, in the case of an electrode-supporting rod which extends upwardly through the top wall of a substantially cylindrical condenser, because, in such an event, the absence of any additional projections improves'the appearance and general efiiciency of the construction both from the standpoint of manufacture and of reliable and rugged performance.

It is a particular feature of my invention to provide an arrangement wherein a wall of the container is provided with an aperture adapted to serve as a vent, and wherein means are arranged within the container for normally sealing said aperture and for unsealing it only at those special times at which escape of gases or relief of pressure is to take place.

Briefl my invention resides in the provision of suc an aperture in combination w1th a specially constructed valve arran ment in the interior of the container and a acent to l the aperture.

In a preferred construction, the valve mcludes a movable diaphragm, for example, a diaphra or web of relatively soft, resilient, distenda le material such as rubber, the diaphragm servin normally to rest in a retracted position w erein the vent is closed or sealed, and the movement, as, for eirample, the distention, of the diaphragm serving under predetermined conditions to unseal the vent.

Where an operative rtion of the condenser structure extends rough a wall thereof, as for example, where anelectrode-en porting rod'extends upwardly through t e I! to wall of a container, I prefer to mount the v ve arrangement on this rod itself, thereby facilitating manufacture and assembly and producin a compact and rugged construction whic is hi hly eiiicient ll Iachieve the oregoing ob ects and advantages, and such other ob ects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exem hfied in the accompanying drawing, 1n whl Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of a condenser of the present character embodying the-features o my present invention and shown in mounted relationship-upon a supporting platform or the like; I V

Figure 2 is an ex loded view of the upper portion of the con enser with parts omitted and other parts broken away for the sake of clearness; and

Figure 8 is a view similar to the :3: r por- Il tion of Figure 1, illustrating a m i ation.

I have shown my present invention associated with a condenser of the type more fully illustrated and described in my co-pending application. I have shown, for example, a

46 substantially cylindrical or tubular container 10 which may be of any suitable material, and preferably of thin yet strong metal such as sheet aluminum. The container is provided with a bottom wall 11, shown integral there- 50 with, and a top wall 12 which, in the form illustrated, is made of a separate disc having riphery spun,-as at 13, into engagement its vvitli the upper edge of the container 10. At

its midportion, the container has been shown 65 provided with a partition '14 of conductive material virtually dividing the container into two compartments, in the lower one of which an electrode 15 is arranged and in the upper one of which a separate electrode 16 is ar- 60 ranged. These electrodes may be of any desired character and are usuall ably in the form of a substantia ly c lindrical' y composed of a spirally wound sheet of aluminum having an electrolytically depos- 55 ited dielectric coating thereon. I have shown and preferthe electrode 15 mounted upon a supporting rod 17 which extends out of the container through the bottom wall 11; and I have shown the electrode 16 suspended upon a supporting rod or the like 18 which extends upwardl throu h the top wall 12.

Altiiou h t e lower electrode, and the method 0 mountin the condenser upon a platform, has no irect bearing upon my present invention, I will oint out briefl that in the form illustrated the bottom we I 11 is provided with a depending, relatively narrow, hollow attachment neck 19 adapted to pass downward] through a supporting platform 20 or the l1ke and to be engaged beneath the platform by an attachment nut or the like 21. To hold the condenser in the upri ht position shown, the neck 19 is preferab y ta red interiorly, and the lower portion of t e rod 17 may be similarly tapered and provided with exterior threads at its lower end adagted to receive a nut or the like 22, the tig tening of the nut 22 servin to draw the rod 17 into firm, snug, and liqui tight association with the neck. 19. An electrical connection with the rod 17, and hence with the electrode 15, may be made as at 28, and to insulate the rod from the container washers 24 may be employed to ther with a sheath or sleeve 25 of insula 'ng material surrounding the lower portion of the rod 17 and extending upward into the container for a short distance. This sleeve guards the lower portion ofthe rod from the likelihood of shortcircuit by sediment that may form at the bottom of the container, and the upper end of the sleeve 25 is referably clamped into position as at 26. fiere the platform 20 is of conductive material, electrical connection is established with the container 10 through this platform, otherwise it may be established at the nut 21 or elsewhere, depending uponrequirements.

The n per electrode-supporting rod 18 is preferab y threaded exteriorly at its upper end to accommodate a nut 27 or the like which holds the rod in position and in connection with which an electrical connection may be made, as at 28. The rod 18 may be insulated from the container either by making the wall 12 entirely or partially of insulating material, or by the employment of washers such 'as those shown at 29, together with other insulation surrounding the rod 18 as it passes through the wall 12.

In accordance with my present invention, the rod 18 is provided with an extended collar or flange 30 beneath the top wall 12 and preferably integral with the rod. This flange or disc is provided with an o ning 31.

Lying on the upper surface of t is flange is a web or sheet 32 of relatively thin diaphragm material, such as elastic rubber or the like; and this element is provided with the central opening 33 adapted to engage over the rod 18, and is also provided with a relatively small opening or pinhole 34 adapted to align with the opening 31.

Over this I prefer to arrange a clamping member or disc 35 which is of relatively rigid material and preferably, though-not necessarily, of insulation. This member has a central opening 36 adapted to accommodate the rod 18, and it has an annular thickened portion 37 around this central opening adapted to fit'into the central opening 38 in the top wall 12 to insulate the rod from this 'wall. The member 35 is also provided with the eccentric, relatively large opening 39 which is adapted to align with the openings 31 and 34.

The top wall 12 is'provided with a relatively small aperture 40, also aligned with the other openings, and adapted to serve as a vent for the interior of the container.

When the parts are assembled in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 1, the tightening of the nut 27 will cause the diaphragm member 32 to be securely clamped between the flange 30 and the member 35, and the latter member will also be forced firmly into engagement with the under-surface of the top wall 12 so that the opening 39 will virtually provide what may be termed a chamber beneath the top wall 12, and, more especially, beneath the aperture 40.

That portion of the web 32 which lies in alignment with the opening 39 constitutes a movable or distensible diaphragm which serves as a valve member in the manner presently to be described, and, with respect to the chamber constituted of the opening 39, this diaphragm serves as a bottom wall.

The opening or pinhole 34 is normally closed due to the natural resilience of the material of the diaphragm. And under normal conditions it is therefore obvious that the interior of the container is sealed by this diaphragm, no gases, and, obviously, no liquid, being capable of escape through the aperture 40 in the top wall 12. The handling, packing, and shipment of thecondenser is therefore totally devoid of any likelihood of leakage or damage.

When the pressure of the gases within the space 41, overlying the level of the electrolyte 42, exceeds a predetermined maximum the diaphragm is distended or ballooned upwardly into the opening,39, and this causes the pinhole 34 momentarily to enlarge to permit escape of gases into the opening or chamber 39 and thence out of the container through the aperture or vent 40. Immediately after the pressure has been relieved in this manner, the diaphragm resumes its normal retracted position and serves again to seal to vent 40.

As a result, the container isefliciently and satisfactorily vented for the purposes hereinbefore referred to, While at the same time the interior of the container is normally sealed, and there are no protuberances or similar projections on the exterior of the container.

Obviously, the construction may be altered in a variety of ways to meet differing requirements. The flange 30 ma if desired be a separate element and nee not be integral with the rod 18. The material of the dia phragm 32 may be of any suitable character and it need not necessarily be composed of resilient material provided with a pinhole. For example since the diaphragm serves as a valve instrumentality for opening the vent only at predetermined times the movement of the diaphragm, whether such movement be a distention or not, might be employed to initiate the operation of, or actuate, an auxiliary valve member or its equivalent for fulfilling the same function. Or, the diaphragm illustrated, which is the preferred type of valve member, might be replaced by any other suitable type of valve wherein a movable portion thereof is normally retracted to keep the vent closed and is adapted to be moved out of its normal position for the purpose of unsealing the vent.

Furthermore, the upper clamping member 35 may be entirely dispensed with, if desired, and the opening 39 may be provided in the top wall 12 in place of the relatively small aperture 40. In such an event, the distention of a diaphragm of the character herein illustrated would take place upwardly into and through such opening in the top wall 12, and, obviously, under such an arrangement, the diaphragm would have to be clamped directly between the flange 30 or its equivalent and. the top wall 12 itself.

Furthermore, although I have shown the various elements of my valve arrangement mounted upon and supported by the electrode rod 18, it will be understood that this arrangement is not essential, and the several operative portions of the venting device may be supported either from the top wall 12 or by other suitable means within the container.

In Figure 3, for example, I have shown a construction wherein there is no electrode rod, Figure 3 representing the upper portion of an electrolytic condenser or the like wherein only a single or lower electrode is immersed in the electrolyte. In this construction, a container 43 has a top wall 44 provided with the aperture or vent 45. The flange 30 of Figure 2 is replaced by a supporting element or disc 46 which is carried by a pin or stud 47 riveted or eyeletted or similarly attached to the top wall 44. The member 46' has the opening 48 and carries the diaphragm member 49 with the pinhole 50 therein. A clamping member 51 is mounted on top of the diaphragm and is held in clamped position between the diaphragm and the top wall 44.

The ration of the device of Fi ure 8 will be 0 vious from the description ereinbefore given, and serves to show the possibility of mounting a venting arrangement within a container of the present character independently of any electrode-supporting rod which extends through the top wall.

The possible variations in structure previousl referred to may be applied with equal faci ity to the construction of Fi ure 3.

Furthermore, although I have erein illustrated and described my invention-as it applies to an electrolytic condenser, it will be understood that many of the phases of my invention are not restricted to a device of this character and may find wide applicability in other analogous or non-analogous arts, and, in fact, in any case where venting of a container is desired for similar purposes.

In general, it will be obvious that changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention may be made b those skilled in the art without departing rom the spirit and scope of the invention as ex ressed in the appended claims. .It is there ore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described m invention and illustrated its use, what I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an electrolytic condenser, an electrolyte container having a wall provided with an a rture ada ted to serve as a vent, a rubs ber 'aphragm aving a rforation therein and positioned underneat said vent for normally sealin the latter, said diaphragm being adapted to istend and enlarge said perforation and thereby unseal said vent under excessive pressure conditions within the container, and a pair of clamping members engaging said diaphragm on opposite sides thereof to hold the same in position, the'inner of said members having a stem mounted in said container wall.

2. In an electrolytic condenser,a substantially cylindrical electrolyte container having an end wall provided wit an aperture adapted to serve as a vent, an electrode-supportin rod mounted in said wall alongside of sai vent, and means within the container and carried by said rod for normally sealing said vent and adapted to unseal said vent under excessive pressure conditions within the container.

3. In an electrolytic condenser, a substantially cylindrical electrol container'having an end wall provid with an aperture adapted to serve as a vent, an electrode-supporting rod mounted in said wall alongside of said vent, and a valve within the container and carried by said rod for normally sealin said vent, sai valve being adapted to unse said vent only under excessive pressure conditions within the container.

4. In an electrolytic condenser, a substantially cylindrical electrol container having an end wall provided wit an aperture adapted to serve as a vent, an electrode-supportm rod mounted in said wall alon ide of said vent, and a rubber dia hragm with a pinhole therein carried by sai rod and arranged underneath said vent for normall sealing the latter, said diaphragm being a apted to distend and enlarge said pinhole, thereby unscaling said vent under excessive pressure conditions within the container.

5. In an electrolytic condenser, a substantially cylindrical electrol te container having an end wall provided wit an aperture adapted to serve as a vent, an electrode-supportm rod mounted in said wall alongside of sai vent, a flange mounted on said rod beneath said end wa l and provided with an opening ali ed with said vent, a relatively thin, distensible diaphragm on the outer surface of said flange, said iaphra havin a pinhole over said opening, and a c am ing isc snugly fitlted betwesr:1 sai: end wal and sairll p ragm, sai isc aving an openm a with said vent and pinhole, whereby thd d iaphragm will normall seal said vent and whereby distention of e diaphragm into said disc opening under excessive ressure conditions within the container wl 1 enlarge said pinhole and thereby unseal said vent.

6. In an electrolytic condenser, an electrolyte container having a wall provided with an a rture adapted to serve as a vent, a distensi le diaphragm having a perforation therein and positioned underneath said vent for normally sealing the latter, said diaphragm being adapted to distend to unseal said vent under excessive pressure conditions within the container, and means en aging said diaphragm peripherally to hold t e same in position, said means comprisin a clamping member having a stem moun in said container wall.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification this 26 day of February, 1931.

HAROLD I. DANZIGER. 

